Multi-point sliding door latch

Abstract

A multi-point sliding door latch intended to fit within standard sized opening in the stile of a sliding door. Preferably the latch has at least two hooks oriented in opposite directions that slide in a generally linear manner between an unlatched and latched position in response to rotation of a pair of actuators located within the latch housing. Preferably, the latch includes reinforcement blocks defining cavities with a portion of the hooks extending into the cavities when the hooks are in the latched position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A door latch comprising:
 a housing having a front face, a first side panel, and a second side panel opposite said first side panel; 
 wherein said front face does not comprise said first side panel or said second side panel and neither said first side panel nor said second side panel comprise said front face; 
 said front face defining an upper opening and a lower opening; 
 an upper hook assembly contained within said housing; 
 said upper hook assembly having a hook portion and a receiver portion; 
 said hook portion extending through said upper opening to allow engagement with a keeper plate; 
 said receiver portion of said upper hook assembly engaging an upper actuator mounted within said housing; 
 said upper actuator co-acting with said receiver portion of said upper hook assembly to slide said hook portion of said upper hook assembly in a generally linear motion, generally parallel with said front face of said housing between an unlatched position and a latched position; 
 a lower hook assembly contained within said housing; 
 said lower hook assembly having a hook portion and a receiver portion; 
 said hook portion extending through said lower opening to allow engagement with said keeper plate; 
 said receiver portion of said lower hook assembly engaging a lower actuator mounted within said housing; 
 said lower actuator co-acting with said receiver portion of said lower hook assembly to slide said hook portion of said lower hook assembly in a generally linear motion, generally parallel with said front face of said housing between an unlatched position and a latched position; 
 said upper and lower actuators provided with means for co-action such that activation of one actuator results in activation of the other actuator; 
 wherein said hook assemblies further comprise sliding arm portions and said door latch further comprises reinforcement blocks within said housing; 
 said reinforcement blocks defining internal cavities; 
 said sliding arm portions of said hook assemblies extending into said internal cavities of said reinforcement blocks when said hook assemblies are in the latched positions; 
 wherein each of said reinforcement blocks defines a threaded hole, second holes in approximate axial alignment with said threaded holes are defined by said front face of said housing and a threaded member passes through each of said second holes and engages the threads of said threaded holes whereby rotation of said threaded member adjusts the position of said reinforcement blocks with respect to said front face of said housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The door latch of  claim 1  further comprising a safety plunger extending approximately perpendicularly through said front face and traveling between an extended and compressed position;
 said safety plunger biased toward the extended position; and 
 said safety plunger co-acting with one of said hook assemblies to prevent said hook assemblies from moving to the latched position when said safety plunger is in the extended position and allow said hook assemblies to be moved to the latched position when said safety plunger is in the compressed position.